If you’re a Norris Trophy voter, Emma Freimark would like to have a quick word about Cale Makar.
Actually, she’d like to have about 500. Because that was roughly the length of the speech that 9-year-old Emma presented this past Friday to the John Ware 4-H Club in Duchess, Alberta.
Her subject? Makar, the Avs’ star defenseman. Who, ya know, also happens to be her favorite player.
Freimark’s 3-minute, 18-second dissertation, entitled “Being The Next Great One,” ended with the following passage:
Cale is not only an awesome player, he’s a very humble young man with a great mindset. It is very rare that you see him celebrating after a goal. He is cool, calm and collected.
When I watch Cale on TV, it inspires me to be a better defenseman and skater. I hope to meet him or watch him play an Avalanche game someday. Thank you for listening to my speech about my favorite hockey player. All hail Cale.
“She did a great job. It was awesome,” said Jaime McIntosh, a family friend of the Freimarks in nearby Brooks, Alberta, where she was once a billet — a host mom — to both Cale and his little brother Taylor when they played for the junior A Brooks Bandits.
“They just think (Makar) is a great human being. The kids (here) loved him before he became NHL famous. He’s such a good, good kid. And I think a lot of them really looked up to .”
Had some requests from fans for Emma Freimark’s speech on Cale Makar. With permission of the family, here is part I …
— Sean Keeler (@SeanKeeler)
Oh, sure, she’s got stories, all right. But as this is Cale Makar, they’re not just printable. They’re downright tame.
“One of the first television interviews he did, I can’t remember exactly who it was with,” McIntosh said of the Avs’ blue-liner, who played with the Bandits from 2014-17. “But I distinctly remember he answered a question and his response was, ‘Yeah… I’m a pretty outgoing guy.’”
With that, she let out a knowing guffaw.
“And I immediately just started laughing, because that was not Cale,” McIntosh continued. “Not even remotely. We’re like, ‘What is he even talking about?’ That is not .”
Saturday? Saturday was more him.
… and part II:
— Sean Keeler (@SeanKeeler)
Makar set up Nathan MacKinnon’s five-hole laser for a first-period assist in the Avs’ 5-3 matinee win at Buffalo. That dime pushed the defenseman’s season points total to 50 in just 45 games.
In Avalanche/Nordiques history, only one defenseman, Steve Duchesne (41 games in ’92-93), reached the 50-point mark in a season quicker. Through his first 145 career NHL contests, Makar amassed 143 points. The only player with more over their first 145 tilts was Mark Howe, with 147.
The 23-year-old Makar entered the weekend leading NHL defensemen in points per game (1.11), multi-point games (14) and goals (18). And we’ve still got nine weeks of the regular season left.
“He just does what he needs to do,” McIntosh said. “He goes out there and he never takes credit for it, never gets too excited. He just does what he does.”
And while little Emma has never met Makar, McIntosh explained, she did have an “in,” so to speak. Her father skates with Jaime’s husband.
“(Emma’s) dad had met (Makar when he played in Brooks) and he loved Cale,” McIntosh said.
“They got his jersey, and ever since Cale left, they’ve watched all his progressions. They watch all his Avs games. She and her sister just think he’s great. They’re sports kids, too.”
So when the time came for Emma to choose a subject for her club speech, McIntosh was able to pull a few strings to help the cause. The 4th-grader got to ask a few questions to the Avs’ defenseman directly. The juicy stuff.
Whatap your favorite food?
(“Steak,” Makar replied.)
Besides hockey, what do you like?
(“Playing golf with friends and family.”)
Favorite hockey player growing up?
(“Jarome Iginla.”)
Favorite quote?
(“‘With great power comes great responsibility,’ from the first-ever ”)
Do you like cows?
(“Yes, because they provide us with great steaks.”)
Freimark wears No. 8, too. She shoots from the right. She plays defense. When she and her friend Kallie pair up to protect the blue line for their U-11 hockey team, they call it “Girl Power.”
“She read her speech and then went and played her hockey game,” McIntosh recalled. “Typical day for a Canadian.”
Besides his affection for cows, McIntosh asked Freimark, why would you want to present a speech about Makar?
“Because he’s my favorite hockey player,” she replied.
And why is he your favorite?
“Because he wears No. 8. And is really good at hockey.”
Hey, don’t take our word for it. Take Emma’s.
